Choysa tea tins

recent op-shop finds; in red, blue & the black tea tray table, add to the growing collection. i know from the advertising inside just one of the lids that the tins in this design were from the New Zealand Choysa tea company. now owned by multinational Unilever i wonder if they will reply to my email request for information? i do hope so, i just can't find a thing out about them, though if they don't i'll still have the promise of, and the thrill of finding a new colour, shape or object of it's kind.

The collection is so grown it now requires a purpose beyond it's own beauty to justify it's continued existence. kitchen or craft room storage whichever, they need a shelf all of their own so i can look at their shiny prettiness and purr.

a hello again, a my creative space update and an advent swap

hello there. it's been a while!                                                             

i'm just getting into my stride again after a bout of extreme morning sickness, yay and urgh in equal measure! claud is especially over the moon, constantly trying to lure the wee babe out with promises of "if you come out to play you can play with my toys/boys/eat marshmallows"! This has had the happy side-effect of ever-so-slightly diluting her ongoing obsession with pink and the wiggles. sigh. 

pre-vile-sickness and other stresses i was poised to start having a bash at fabric printing. i bought a batch of blank tea-towels and got as far as sketching these rainbow ideas. then i got nervous, like i did when i first got my sewing machine, and just plotted more rather than did. hopefully printing this wiggles t shirt for her first 'gig' has broken the ice.

as soon as the sickness waned, spring kicked in, and i've spent all my time since then doing, plotting and planting, aided by my wee flower fairy. now the rain is back i dug out the long lost first knitting project. i can only remember this one stitch and really need to go back to my class, but i like to go to bed at 7.30 now not classes so i think i may just youtube myself some knitty education.

i've not much to report on the braided rug making front either, but i splurged on some proper, heirloom-will-last-a-hundred-years-plus waxed linen lacing cord, to replace the $2 shop twine i had been used, and it's arrived from America, so i've started tearing blankets and I'm feeling...enthused by padding to bed barefoot every night on the first one I made i can't stop thinking about the next one. i just have to decide whether to pattern the rug like this paper fan/hudson bay blanket, or like these more traditional rugs. it's for by the fire, and will be oval.

and, speaking of all things creative...

who's up for Cat's

here are the details (note: it's a 'down-under swap, ie Australia and New Zealand)

The idea of this swap is to buy, make, thrift or share 24 little gifts with your partner to open each day of the Advent to Christmas and one larger present for her to open on Christmas morning. 

• Craft items; new or from your stash  
• Books / Patterns / Magazines
• Chocolates / Sweets / Edible goodies.
• Bath Treats; Bath Bombs, Bubble Bath, Soaps etc.
• Samples of Products 

The list is endless! 

(ALL pre-loved items should be in 'as new' or very good condition - please only send items to your partner in a condition that you would be happy to receive them in yourself) 

This doesn't need to be an expensive swap but please discuss budgets etc with your partner to avoid disappointment.

If you'd like to take part in the swap, go here to Catalinas Cottage and leave a comment you will then be emailed a questionnaire to fill in which will be passed onto your swap partner.

Sign up by 09th October 2012

Swap partners assigned no later than 16th October 2012

Deadline to ship your lovely gifts will be 20th November 2012

Please do not sign up unless you can honour this swap. 

The golden rule to swaps is "give like you would like to receive" and to have FUN

I've got a MILLION ideas brewing!

Sharing at our Creative Spaces